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The Pony Club Association of Victoria, commonly abbreviated as PCAV, is the controlling body for Pony Clubs in Victoria where young people can ride and learn all disciplines of equestrian sports. The Association co-ordinates, develops and promotes horsemanship in Victoria and instruction for its members.
Contents
- Aims and Objectives
- Membership
- Clothing and Uniforms
- Examples of club jumper colour schemes
- Example The North Eastern Zone
- Meeting places
- History
- References
Children and young adults to the age of 25 learn the skills of riding and general horsemanship and compete in local events, but can also go on to compete at state, national and international events, including the Olympics. Pony Club is one of the few sports were males and females compete on equal terms.
Victoria is divided into 10 Zones currently comprising 210 Clubs. Each club is organized and arranged separately, but the Zone also has an organizing Committee. Each Zone also has a Chief Instructor whose duty is to supervise and encourage the instruction policy within the Zone. Each Zone sends Councillors to Association meetings to determine general policy.
In each Zone there are as many as 30 different Pony Clubs.
Aims and Objectives
Membership
Membership is open to anyone who is not considered a 'professional' under the Association rules. Junior members are under 17 years, Associate members are 17 and under 25 years and Senior Members are 25 years and over. Only Junior and Associate members are allowed to compete or receive instruction.
Certificates Throughout their pony club career, riders are encouraged to undertake various efficiency tests according to their age and ability, commencing with the basic ‘D’ test through to ‘A’ test the highest level. These certificates aim to encourage the interest and improvement in knowledge of its members. They are viewed as a measure of a rider’s progress in their overall efficiency. In working for them riders acquire valuable knowledge and skills, which enhance their riding experience.
Competitions To supplement Rally Days there are other activities offered such as gymkhanas, camps, trail rides, lectures and films, visits to places of interest and demonstrations. Inter-club competitions are often held in the form of a Gymkhana, which has a mix of show riding events, Sporting and Showjumping competitions.
Zone championships are generally held once a year for most disciplines, including Dressage, Show Jumping, One Day Eventing, Horse Trials, Sporting, Flat teams, and Mounted Games.
State Championships are held at roughly the same times each year.
Clothing and Uniforms
Each member is required to wear the following at all times, while mounted:
Each club sets its own uniform. This will generally include an informal uniform for club rally days such as a club polo shirt and a formal uniform, consisting of a long-sleeved shirt, tie, and jumper or vest. Each club will normally have its own saddle cloth.
Each Zone and State also have their own colours and uniforms. Zone representatives in state competitions must wear the Zone's colours.
Examples of club jumper colour schemes
Example: The North Eastern Zone
The North Eastern Zone comprises the pony clubs in the North Eastern part of Victoria. There are 19 Pony Clubs in this Zone:
Each of these clubs has its own meeting place, uniforms, shows, rally/training days, sponsors, and committees.
Meeting places
The only two Pony Clubs in Victoria that share the same grounds are Tooradin Pony Club and Dalmore Pony Club, which share the grounds of Tooradin Estate. Both are registered clubs, and have sufficet members to keep running. Quite a few Pony Clubs, such as Bacchus Marsh and Sale, use the local showgrounds. Some clubs, such as Werribee, use special horse facilities like the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre. Other clubs, such as the Barwon Heads and District Pony Club and Moe Pony Club, have their own grounds which either belong to the club or are leased from the Local Council. The Pony Clubs themselves normally pay for the upkeep and maintenance of facilities, although often government grants will supplement club finances such as the 2008 sand arena at Drysdale/Leopold Pony Club.
History
The PCAV was formed in 1954 as an outgrowth of the British Horse Society, which itself had its origins in 1928 in Britain with the Institute of the Horse. In 1963 the Association was divided into Zones.